When Energy Issues Are Land Use Issues: Estimating Preferences for Utility-Scale Solar Energy Siting
Document Type
Article
Date of Original Version
2023
Department
Environmental and Natural Resource Economics
Abstract
Although solar energy receives broad support in general, utility-scale solar arrays can be contentious because at the siting stage, it becomes a land use issue replete with potential disamenities and trade-offs. We conduct a choice experiment survey to estimate preferences for attributes of utility-scale solar arrays in Rhode Island, United States. Our results suggest that the largest indicator of solar development approval is prior land use, with residents willing to pay an additional $10–$21 in monthly utility bills for developments in commercial, industrial, brownfield, and covered landfill areas, and $13–$49 to avoid developments on farm and forest land.
Publication Title, e.g., Journal
Land Economics
Volume
99
Issue
3
Citation/Publisher Attribution
Gaur, V., Lang, C., Howard, G., & Quainoo, R. (2023). When energy issues are land use issues: estimating preferences for utility-scale solar energy siting. Land Economics. 99(3) 343-363. https://doi.org/10.3368/le.99.3.111221-0130R1 Available at: https://doi.org/10.3368/le.99.3.111221-0130R1
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